A maintenance worker from Winchester, Christopher Hooper, expressed feeling powerless after falling 36ft through an open hole onto a concrete floor, resulting in severe injuries.
Hooper, 31, sustained fractures to his skull, back, pelvis, arm, wrist, and ankle during the fall through the driver’s cab of a straddle carrier while performing maintenance tasks on September 20, 2022, at DP World Southampton’s terminal.
In a heartfelt statement, Hooper shared his struggles: “I feel like a puppet in my life, moved from therapy to therapy without any control. It feels like my life is in a waiting room. Early out of hospital, I had milestones that felt achievable. Now, no one can tell me what comes next, impacting my day-to-day life as I don’t know what my future holds.”
Christopher Hooper suffered multiple injuries – health and safety bosses say he’s lucky to be alive.https://t.co/pf9M4bKHHB
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Southampton Container Terminals Limited, operating as DP World Southampton, faced a £1 million fine by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Westminster-based company pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on August 2 to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were also ordered to pay £11,664.59 in costs.
An HSE spokesperson stated: “The hole was created by contractors replacing a glass floor, exposing Mr Hooper and other workers to fall risks. Mr Hooper, employed by Southampton Container Terminals Limited since he was 17, was unaware of the open hole while conducting routine maintenance.”
The HSE investigation revealed that Southampton Container Terminals Limited did not ensure a safe system of work for replacing the glass floor and performing routine maintenance simultaneously. The company also failed to conduct a risk assessment and implement its policy for work permits at height.
HSE inspector Francesca Arnold remarked: “This incident resulted in severe life-changing injuries for Mr Hooper, who is fortunate to be alive. Southampton Container Terminals Limited did not produce a suitable risk assessment or implement basic control measures. Working at height hazards are well known, and this prosecution serves as a reminder that employers must manage and implement effective measures. Failure to do so will result in accountability.”
A DP World Southampton spokesperson commented: “Safety is our top priority at DP World Southampton. We understand the incident’s impact on the affected worker and will continue to support him. Our commitment to safety is shown by our improved Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) over the past 15 years, thanks to significant investments in safety training, awareness, and infrastructure.”
“Although our safety efforts were acknowledged as a mitigating factor, we fell short of our high standards this time. We have reviewed and updated our operational systems and procedures to prevent similar future incidents. We are confident that our team at DP World Southampton will continue to uphold the highest safety standards in the industry.”